Dealing with the Land Office

Post by **nkstan** » June 23, 2011, 2:58 pm

Went to the land office this morning to complete tha sale and transfer of property to the buyer from Phuket.We had everything in order,but she had a missing componet,her falang husband

The falang has to fill out and sign a form stating that the money used to purchase the land,is the seperate property of his wife.It seems that this has to be done in the NK land office only.Faxes and witnesses from the Phuket office will not suffice.
Another ridiculous backward situation that is customary to Thailand.So,sinnce nothings a big deal in Thailand,the husband will fly up today and we will go through the whole process tomorrow morning,mai pen rai

I watched the woman ,who happens to hold a 7 out of 9 rank with a government agency,get very upset at the process,and couldn't help wondering why,since she is Thai and works within a Gov't bureacracy system herself?I'm sure other Gov't employees have been disappointed by the antiquated systems before,but ....................

Post by **EssexGaz** » June 23, 2011, 3:49 pm

How did they know that she had a falang husband??

And what if she didnt have one? she could have done the deal today

Post by **old-timer** » June 23, 2011, 3:59 pm

nkstan wrote: The falang has to fill out and sign a form stating that the money used to purchase the land,is the seperate property of his wife.It seems that this has to be done in the NK land office only.

Nothing unusual about that , a straight forward procedure. Hardly "Gov't bureacracy". It forms part of the procedure of buying property in Thailand and is not exclusive to NK land Office. OT's has signed the same form on a number of occasions at he UT land office.

OT............. $\:D/$

Post by **nkstan** » June 23, 2011, 4:27 pm

old-timer wrote:
nkstan wrote: The falang has to fill out and sign a form stating that the money used to purchase the land,is the seperate property of his wife.It seems that this has to be done in the NK land office only.
Nothing unusual about that , a straight forward procedure. Hardly "Gov't bureacracy". It forms part of the procedure of buying property in Thailand and is not exclusive to NK land Office. OT's has signed the same form on a number of occasions at he UT land office.

OT............. $\:D/$

Really?You don't believe the fact that one must present themselves before A Particular Land office to sign a paper that could have been signed ,witnessed and authenticated by the Phuket office,a bureacratic farce?They do have computers with databases,correct?

I don't see how the many times you have done it,makes it any different.

I sold 2 properties in America,while living in Thailand through faxes

Post by **trubrit** » June 23, 2011, 4:34 pm

I must admit Stan I thought you said only NK do this.Well like OT I have done a few transactions in other offices around the country and they all do .Reading it again I see you apparently meant the guy had to be in NK, which is correct as the land clerk doing the transaction has to witness his signature . Logical really .

Post by **papaguido** » June 23, 2011, 6:31 pm

nkstan wrote:
old-timer wrote:
nkstan wrote: The falang has to fill out and sign a form stating that the money used to purchase the land,is the seperate property of his wife.It seems that this has to be done in the NK land office only.
Nothing unusual about that , a straight forward procedure. Hardly "Gov't bureacracy". It forms part of the procedure of buying property in Thailand and is not exclusive to NK land Office. OT's has signed the same form on a number of occasions at he UT land office.

OT............. $\:D/$
Really?You don't believe the fact that one must present themselves before A Particular Land office to sign a paper that could have been signed ,witnessed and authenticated by the Phuket office,a bureacratic farce?They do have computers with databases,correct?

I don't see how the many times you have done it,makes it any different.

I sold 2 properties in America,while living in Thailand through faxes

I couldn't agree more. I had to sign the same document while I was still living the US. It was handled and accepted by FAX.

Post by **parrot** » June 23, 2011, 7:09 pm

I'm just going to guess that had the woman told the land office that her husband was in the US, a fax would have been accepted. Just guessin'

Post by **old-timer** » June 23, 2011, 7:54 pm

What's a fax ?

OT............... $\:D/$

Post by **jimboLV** » June 23, 2011, 8:02 pm

I don't know where you guys were living in the US, but while I was living there I bought and sold over a dozen properties, in several states, most of the transactions handled from a distance without my presence. (Because of my profession I had to move every few years, usually across the country, and no I wasn't on the lam from the cops). I was NEVER able to complete the transaction with a FAX. It always had to be notarized original documents fedexed. Maybe the offer and acceptance was done with faxes but it always had to be followed up with a notarized hard copy.

But that is beside the point. This is Thailand, in case you haven't noticed, and they have their rules, like it or not. Sometimes they make sense and sometimes they don't. This particular rule, about non foreign ownership of land, is one I agree with and I wish it would be adopted by my home country.

Post by **old-timer** » June 23, 2011, 8:16 pm

nkstan wrote:
Really?You don't believe the fact that one must present themselves before A Particular Land office to sign a paper that could have been signed ,witnessed and authenticated by the Phuket office,a bureacratic farce?They do have computers with databases,correct?

I don't see how the many times you have done it,makes it any different.

I sold 2 properties in America,while living in Thailand through faxes

Wow, you really have just about had it with everything Thai. Good Idea to get back to the States where the grass is greener and there is less bureaucracy. OT's got a feeling that you will leave this place hating everything about it.
Good luck.

OT............... $\:D/$

Post by **nkstan** » June 24, 2011, 6:11 am

old-timer wrote:
nkstan wrote:
Really?You don't believe the fact that one must present themselves before A Particular Land office to sign a paper that could have been signed ,witnessed and authenticated by the Phuket office,a bureacratic farce?They do have computers with databases,correct?

I don't see how the many times you have done it,makes it any different.

I sold 2 properties in America,while living in Thailand through faxes
Wow, you really have just about had it with everything Thai. Good Idea to get back to the States where the grass is greener and there is less bureaucracy. OT's got a feeling that you will leave this place hating everything about it.
Good luck.

OT............... $\:D/$

You are assuming to much,I don't hate everything about Thailand,not even close!Complaints and ridicule by me ,should not be construed as hate.I deal with situations here,far better than most,IMO,I just talk about my perception of Thailand deficiencies,that could be easily corrected if desired,But it is obvious to me that these deficiencies are profitable or desired my many Thais,at least those in charge!I deal with it just fine,but I don't dilute myself into thinking that it is good!
My thinking about leaving Thailand has nothing to do with the way things are done here,but to do with what I think is best for my life!For now,leaving is not imminent because I have loving responsibilities to my stepdaughter and my dog,that outweigh my consideration to leave!

Post by **fatbob** » June 24, 2011, 6:54 am

I couldnt agree more with your perception of all Thai departments Stan, if they wanted to fix the problem of corruption they could, as we all know Thais only take high postings to line there pockets, not benefit the community.

Post by **WhoUrDaddy** » June 24, 2011, 7:21 am

I have bought and sold property in Thailand using Power of Attorney form, or I'll say my wife has. There was no problems at all, and no greasing of palms necessary. The Power of Attorney is a bit dodgy, and wouldn't be accepted in the USA, as done differently here, and lax to say the least. Accepted at Land Office, though any particular officer in charge may have his or her own rules.

Post by **wazza** » June 24, 2011, 8:12 am

Not the land Offie, but the Udon Business Development Office the other day to open my company etc

Lawyer had asked for a map, this was provided with all the submission and rejected by an old women, who kept looking at me, like I had the plague ! she said the the map was drawn in pencil, and anyone can change it, Lawyer replied, weill its oonly your department they could change it etc... I stepped in, walked 2 meters to the photocopy machine and produced a copy of the pencil map on A 4 photocopy paper. It was accepted.

10 mins later application rejected again, this time, she cant read a copy of the ta bian barn, as its from an old book. Refused to process the application, till a new copy produced. Had to drive 90 km round trip to get a new copy.

Lawyer sadly said after, it would have been cheaper to buy her new glasses ! LOL

GF and her mother both witnesses and parties , said later, and all agreed, it was because of having a farang in the office and her power struggle....

Post by **Prenders88** » June 24, 2011, 10:44 am

We are the Pakis here.

Hated and barely tolerated.

Post by **nkstan** » June 24, 2011, 11:08 am

Well returned to the LO today,both parties flew up from Phuket,another hitch!My daughter is 19 and she can not sell the land until Feb.,when she is 20.When checking all the paperwork yesterday,he said that he didn't notice that!

Post by **wazza** » June 24, 2011, 12:15 pm

The cost of the 2 return airfares would have covered a lawyer to review all the documents, ducks in a row and then proceed to the office for the processing ??

Post by **KHONDAHM** » June 24, 2011, 1:12 pm

@nkstan
Couldn't agree with you more. Same gov't agency, different cities. Seems one could simply have the other witness signatures. But, well, then that would make sense --- and TIT.

About to finally do a usufruct with the missus today. Scouted out the requirements this morning. Just aboutout the door with all the paperwork.

@Jimbo
Wouldn't THAT be something if there could be a requirement that a reciprocating treaty be in place before foreigners could own property in the USA? I'd vote for that.

Post by **jackspratt** » June 24, 2011, 1:26 pm

KHONDAHM wrote: Wouldn't THAT be something if there could be a requirement that a reciprocating treaty be in place before foreigners could own property in the USA? I'd vote for that.

Hardly equivalent KD - if the rich western world (in this case, the US) could buy up land in 3rd world or developing countries unrestricted, it would drive up the prices to the stage where the average local could not afford to buy/own. A sure recipe for civil disorder.

Whereas Thais buying land in the US is hardly going to have any impact at all.

Post by **aussie peter** » November 10, 2011, 5:49 pm

jackspratt wrote:
KHONDAHM wrote: Wouldn't THAT be something if there could be a requirement that a reciprocating treaty be in place before foreigners could own property in the USA? I'd vote for that.
Hardly equivalent KD - if the rich western world (in this case, the US) could buy up land in 3rd world or developing countries unrestricted, it would drive up the prices to the stage where the average local could not afford to buy/own. A sure recipe for civil disorder.

Whereas Thais buying land in the US is hardly going to have any impact at all.

Well Jack the Australian Government have a policy of allowing business migrants from Asia the world to buy settle Australia? also allowing non Australians from Asia and the rest of the world for that mater to invest in property in Australia pricing the Aussies out of affording the great Aussie dream of owning there own home? maybe the Thais have it right? You are wrong the power of the $ Yin Rupee is changing show respect.

Peter